Environmental Policy

IATA is focused on developing smart policies

Aviation is a catalyst for growth, a vital conduit for world trade, and a major global employer. Nearly 58 million jobs and $2.4 trillion in global GDP are supported by aviation. With these benefits comes an impact on the environment.

IATA’s goal is to ensure proportionate and coherent environmental policies are implemented by governments around the world to support the sector’s sustainability and allow environmental improvements to be achieved in a cost-effective manner. IATA works on mitigating the environmental impacts of air transport both at global level and at local level:

Environmental Policy News

On 9 April 2015, the Spanish Competition Authority released a report (link) in which it concludes that the NOx tax introduced by Catalonia distorts competition and is not justified by any positive impact on the local environment.

Heathrow has proposed to increase environmental charges (link). Among others, noise charges would be set in reference to the latest ICAO noise standard, even though the new standard is not set to apply before 2017. Heathrow also proposes to double NOx charges. The increases in environmental charges are to compensate for lower charges on short-haul flights.

India’s Directorate General of Civil Aviation issued new rules on noise management at airports (pdf). Airports will be required to carry out a noise mapping study and develop action plans to reduce noise from aircraft. The rules call for the development of noise abatement procedures, but also a system of monitoring permissible noise limits.

The FAA rejected the application by LAX - Los Angeles World Airports to completely restrict nighttime easterly departures (decision). The airport notably failed to demonstrate the reasonableness of the restrictions and understated the impact on operators. A voluntary agreement currently limits such departures, but allows exceptions for operational reasons.